Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Benedict XVI, in part to honor Benedict XV who sought to broker peace during World War I, and St. Benedict, a leading light of European Christianity. Cardinal Karol Wojtyla became John Paul II in 1978 to honor his short-lived predecessor John Paul I, who had picked his name from his two immediate predecessors, John XXIII and Paul VI.

The only name that tradition holds is off-limits is Peter, in deference to the first pope, St. Peter.

Here’s a list of the most popular papal names to help him get started. If the new pope decides to go with the most popular and become John XXIV, watch out. John XXIII (1958-1963) revolutionized the Catholic Church with the Second Vatican Council, and things have never been the same since.

12 Comments

in the spirit of “new evangelization,” why not an ANDREW I…after St. Andrew, who brought his brother, Peter, to Christ? Also, Andrew would resonate with Eastern Churches, many of whose countries honor Andrew as patron saint.